Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Louise
Amsterdam is a great city to visit with teenagers. It’s jam packed full with amazing and interesting museums and exciting experiences. From art and culture to thrill seeking adventures to dungeons and history – there are so many attractions that will appeal to teens.
On top of this there are new food experiences, shopping, canal trips and bike rides.
What more could a teenager want from a city trip?
Discover 33 brilliant things to do with teenagers in this fun and fascinating city
Table of Contents
Go on Europe’s Highest Swing
Photo Credit: A’dam Lookout Facebook page
A’DAM lookout is home to Europe’s highest swing! At the top, teens can dangle 100 metres above the ground and swing back and forth over the edge of the tower with Amsterdam below their feet!
Find out more at A’DAM Lookout.
Take a seat on the Amsterdam VR Ride
Also located at A’DAM lookout, you can go on a unique VR ride throughout Amsterdam. Experience the city while enjoying an adrenaline rush at the same time!
Visit the Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House was the home of teenage diarist Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who kept a diary while her family was hiding from the Nazis during World War 2. If your teen is not familiar with Anne Frank’s diary it may be worth getting them to read some of it before they go. The museum is located in the place where Anne hid and lived during the Nazi occupation.
Teenagers and everybody else cannot fail to be moved by what she and her family endured. The well presented museum covers her story during the Nazi occupation. It’s a thought provoking and emotional experience.
You need to book in advance. Be aware there are some steep stairs in the museum.
Hang Out at Vondelpark
Vondelpark is the most famous park in Amsterdam.
It’s a beautiful park and is a great place to wander round and have a picnic.
Vondelpark is also a great place to cycle through and you can hire a bike at nearby shops including A Bike Rental and Mac Bike Rental.
See Inside the Human Body at Body Worlds
Photo Credit: Shadowgate
Body Worlds is a fascinating museum which takes you on a journey of the human body. It’s unique because it uses real human specimens which have been preserved through a process called Plastination invented by Dr. Gunther Von Hagens.
The exhibits include whole body plastinates as well as plastinates of vital organs.
Most teenagers will enjoy a visit here. It’s especially good if they are studying biology or PE.
They will enjoy the interactive elements of the museum. You can measure your body fat, blood pressure and have a body scan. There’s also swings and other fun activities.
Book Your Ticket to Body Worlds in advance
Discover an Invisible World at Micropia
Micropia is another fascinating attraction which is ideal for biology students as well as teenagers who are just curious! Here you can discover the invisible world of microbes.
This museum is small but jam packed with interesting stuff. There are amazing opportunities to watch micropia under a microscope and see live ant colonies. See all kinds of bacteria and fungi and how learn how it survives in different climates and habitats.
Visit Our Lord in the Attic Museum
Photo Credit: Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder / Facebook
This unique attraction is one of the city’s oldest museums. It’s located in a bourgeois house and the museum gives a good idea of what life was like in the 17th century. The amazing thing is when you get to the top floor, the space opens up into a beautiful chapel which has views over the roofs of neighbouring houses.
The audio tour is very good. Even teenagers will be impressed!
Find out more at Our Lord in the Attic Museum
Go Back in Time at Amsterdam Dungeon
Photo Credit: Amsterdam Dungeon Facebook Page.
Amsterdam Dungeon brings to life 500 years of history through an 80 minute tour with characters (played by actors) such as the witch hunter and soul merchant.
The performances in the dungeon are great with the right amount of humour balanced with the right amount of frights. It’s perfect for a teenage audience!
Book Your Amsterdam Dungeon ticket
Eat a Stroopwafel at Albert Cuyp Markt
Stroopwafels are hot Dutch waffles and teenagers will love to try one in Amsterdam. To make traditional Dutch stroopwafels, bakers put a layer of gooey caramel syrup between two round wafer-thin waffles, creating a chewy cookie-like dessert.
There are many street stalls in Amsterdam which sell stroopwafels. Why not wander along Albert Cuyp Markt and try a stroopwafel from one of the stalls there?
The Albert Cuypmarkt is the largest and most popular outdoor market in the Netherlands, with 260 stands operating six days a week selling everything including fresh vegetables, fruits, accessories, clothes and flowers. For teenagers who like to eat there’s plenty of foods to try from Vietnamese spring rolls to Tacos and of course freshly made stroopwafels.
Get a Selfie with a “Celeb” at Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussaud’s Amsterdam is packed full with wax characters of popular music and entertainment figures including movie characters (and politicians).
Relax on a Canal Cruise
A canal boat trip is well worth it. Discover some of the history of Amsterdam and see the city from the water.
Check out some canal cruise ideas:
Be Amazed Ripleys Believe It Or Not
Ripleys’s Believe it or Not is home to over 500 wonderful and bizarre exhibits. There’s interactive exhibits, optical illusions and mind games. Possible highlights for teens include the psychedelic moving tunnel, the world’s longest fingernails. a 7 meter high robot made of car parts and the torture room.
See Amazing Art Work at Rijksmuseum
If you are in Amsterdam with a teenager who loves art, this museum is a must (although if they’re not that interested it’s might bore them a bit!)
The museum of the Netherlands spans the time period from the middle ages to the 20th century. It includes amazing art works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and more.
It’s worth downloading the museum app, so you can go straight to the areas that you are interested in. The app gives a free audio tour with maps and details on the art.
There’s a family game and although it’s designed for 7 to 12 year olds, younger teenagers will probably enjoy doing it too. You have one hour to work as a team to unravel eight special secrets of the Rijksmuseum.
Or why not try a family mission and be a museum researcher for the day?
There’s also a highlights audio tour, so you can see all the best parts without boring teenagers who aren’t that interested!
Under 18s go free!
Book Your Ticket for Rijksmuseum
Spot Some Animals at Amsterdam Zoo
There are plenty of animals to see at Amsterdam zoo including elephants, giraffes, monkeys and birds. There are also panthers and lions (although my personal opinion and that of many others is that the panthers need bigger enclosures).
There’s also a planetarium, botanical garden and butterfly pavilion.
Embark on a Bike Tour of Amsterdam – See Highlights and Hidden Gems
A bike tour with a guide is another fantastic way to see the city with teenagers.
Zip between landmarks. It’s a good way to see Amsterdam if you’re limited in time.
A guide tells you historical information and interesting facts as you go.
Book Your Guided Bike Tour of Central Amsterdam
Cycle From Vondelpark to Amsteram Bos
With plenty of amazing places to cycle, you can also hire bikes to explore Amsterdam with your teenager without a guide. Discover the city in an efficient, economical and fun way.
We’ve already mentionned cycling through Vondelpark. One great route to try is to Amsterdam Bos, a lovely forest area not far from the city. Cycle through Vondelpark and continue on the route for 25 minutes until you reach Amsterdam Bos. Explore the area, have a picnic, cycle round the lake before making your way back.
Amsterdam is also great for cycling along the canals. Or why not use your bikes to explore the famous artsy Jordaan neighbourhood or get from landmark to landmark.
See Sunflowers at the Van Gogh Museum
If your teenager loves art, a visit to the Van Gogh museum is a must.
It’s home to the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and drawings in the world. Seeing masterpieces such as Sunflowers up close is sure to wow teens who have an interest in art. The museum also contains works by Van Gogh’s contemporaries including Monet.
Book Your Van Gogh Museum ticket
Visit a Modern Art Museum
You’re spoiled for choice art museums in Amsterdam, so if your teenager is an artist it’s a great city to come. Here are a couple of modern art museums to discover.
Experience Street Art at Straat Museum
Based in an old shipping factory, the Straat is a free ferry ride away from Amsterdam Centraal. Great if your teen loves street art – it’s the largest museum street art and graffit in the world! Under 18s are free.
Book Your Ticket to Straat Museum
See a Banksy at Moco Museum
The Banksy collection is the main draw of this small, independent art gallery and probably the art that teens will love the most. There is also a great variety of artworks by other artists. Another highlight is a visit to the basement which has a range of interactive exhibits.
Book Tickets to the Moco Museum
Go to the Upside Museum
Described as the world’s largest upside down social media experience, the Upside down museum is like no other tourist attraction you’ve been to before.
With 25 plus rooms and installations, this 1500m2 experience is both mind-bending and colourful.
As well as getting brilliant content for their social media posts, teens can enjoy being a kid again.
Dive into a Dutch Ice Bath, or ride the metro upside down. Dance to the rhythm of your own silent disco beat in an upside down club, fly away in a true private jet, and jump into a voice-activated LED-light pit with a jacuzzi. Lots of fun!
Book Your Upside Down Museum tickets
Learn About World War 2 at the Resistance Musuem
Explore what was like for Dutch people during World War 2. Discover true stories from people from every walk of life including Nazi supporters, Jews and members of the resistance. Learn about the difficult decisions people had to make and their consequences. The audio tour for the museum is excellent and well worth doing. It’s also worth checking out the junior section which is aimed at kids but is still good for all ages.
Find out more at the Resistance Museum website.
Embark on a Walking Tour
Walking tours are a great way to introduce teenagers to a city and keep them engaged at the same time. With such an interesting history and culture, Amsterdam has plenty of fascinating walking tours and some of them are free. Check out FreeWalkingTours Amsterdam for options of free themed tours including a classic tour, Anne Frank tour, dark tour and food tour.
Make Your Own Chocolate Bar at Tony’s Chocolonely Store
If you head to the Beurs van Berlarge store there’s a Tony’s ‘make your own chocolate vending machine’. You can also sample some free chocolate. There’s also a cafe here with lots of great vegan food and delicious chocolate dishes.
Worth a quick visit if you’re nearby!
People Watch at Dam Square
Dam Square is lively and bustling. It’s great for people watching. There is often protests and other stuff going on. Additionally it’s full of pigeons! As you can imagine, it’s a lot like busy squares in other capital cities.
There’s restaurants and shopping nearby. Primark, a favorite for many teens is not far away.
Get Apple Pie at Winkel 43
We know how much teens like to eat. Apple pie is a local delicacy. Winkel 43 is located in Noordermarkt. It’s a great place to get to try a slice of the best apple pie.
Eat Lots at Foodhallen
The Foodhallen is a big indoor market with lots of food stalls. It often has life music too. It’s huge, noisy and fun. Great for teens who like to eat!
Go On This is Holland – 5D flight experience
This is the ultimate flight experience where you can get an aerial perspective on a flight simulation ride. Discover views of rural Holland without having to leave the capital. Learn about the country’s history and geography. It’s a great way for teenagers to learn more about this brilliant country.
Have Fun at Wondr Interactive Experience
Want to just have some fun with your teen? Then book an experience at Wondr.
This interactive experience has a multitude of rooms such as karaoke, ball pits and bouncy castles. Swim in a pool marshmallows, shower in confetti and check out claw machines .
It’s a great place to let lose and have fun like you were a kid again. It’s also a brilliant attraction for some awesome social media pics.
After the expereince, check out the Galaxy cafe where you can relax with some delicious treats.
Tour the Home of Ajax Amsterdam : the Johan Cruijff Arena
If you have a teen football fan, head to Amsterdam Ajax for a tour of their stadium.
On on match days you can see the changing rooms, walk through the players tunnel and sit in the team’s dugout. Plus check out the press room where players hold their post match interviews.
There are plenty of tour options to choose from including a self guided tour, an audio guide on your phone or a tour with a real life guide! The most passionate fans can choose a tour with a virtual reality experience included.
Find out more at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
Pop Into the World’s Coolest Football Shop
Another one for teenage football fans is a quick trip to Copa Football Flagship store. It’s near Central station and it’s jam packed full of cool football tops. Well worth a quick visit for any diehard football fan.
Try Flyboarding
For an unforgettable, high adrenaline experience try flyboarding. Be propelled at high speed through the water, then shoot up until you’re hovering on thin air! An activity unlike any other.
Flyboarding is especially good to do during the summer and wetsuits can be worn on colder days.
Book Your Flyboarding Experience here
Visit the Windmills
It’s very easy to take a train from Amsterdam and visit the windmills. Use the sprinter train in the direction of Uitgeest and get off at Zaanse Schans, Zaandam. It’s a 20 minutes train ride and a 10 minute walk from the station to the windmills.
It’s also just as easy to take a bus to see the windmills. Take bus 391, it takes 40 minutes and Zaanse Schans is the final stop
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